Draft Targets

[ravensfanatic77]

I honestly expect the Ravens to trade out of the 1st round this year to try and accumulate more picks to fill some holes that we have. We need to add a lot of depth and fill some holes on our team and with our cap situation the easiest way to do that is through the draft. Getting 1-2 more picks will help to acheive that.

 

Teams like the Dolphins, Chiefs, Seahawks, Browns and Bills may be interested in putting together a package to move back into the bottom of the 1st round to nab a QB like Brock Osweiler from Arizona State depending on which of the aforementioned teams land Ryan Tannehill. The Colts or another TE hungry team may even want to trade up ahead of the Giants to acquire Coby Fleener, TE, Standford. Knowing how Ozzie and company value their picks and are always in the market to increase total picks they would seriously consider trading down.

 

Positions of need (No particular order):

Center

Offensive Guard

Offensive Tackle

Pass Rushing OLB/DE

Safety

ILB

WR

Return Specialist

 

That is a lot of areas that need to be addressed. As it stands now, we only have 8 total draft picks, if we could increase that number to 10 there is a better chance we could fill multiple areas and have a better shot of finding solid contributers.

 

If the Ravens are unable to trade back, the players that I would want to be there for us are:

1)Mark Barron, S, Alabama

2)Donta Hightower, ILB, Alabama

3)Cordy Glenn, OG/OT, Georgia

4)Lamonte David, OLB, Nebraska

5)Chandler Jones, DE/OLB, Syracuse

6)Whitney Mercilus, DE/OLB, Illinois

7)Andre Branch, DE/OLB, Clemson

8)Peter Konz, OC, Wisconsin

9)Kenall Wright, WR, Baylor

10)Stephen Hill, WR, Georgia Tech

 

Naturally, we won't have our pick of all those talents at #29. I would strongly bet against Barron, Hightower, and Glenn to still be available. I would be thrilled with either Lamonte David, Chandler Jones, or Whitney Mercilus, however and I expect at least 2 of them to be available. WR is not as big of a need as other positions so Kendall Wright, Stephen Hill, or even Alshon Jeffrey would be a luxury pick. IMO, Konz has amazing technique as a Center and can even kick out to guard for a year or two while Birk continues to play. My only concern with Konz, however, is that he only did around 17 reps on the bench press at 225 lbs. Apparently, this has been a trend throughout his entire college career, great technician but not as strong as you'd like at the point of attack. Unless he was willing to dedicate him to the weight room I would not spend a 1st rounder on him. If we were to trade back into the second round and pick up extra picks and still take him then I would be all for that.

 

In a trade back scenario, some names (in addition to fallers from the above list) to keep an eye on would be:

1)Harrison Smith, S, Notre Dame

2)Alshon Jeffrey, WR, South Carolina

3)Nick Perry, DE, USC

4)Jerel Worthy, DT/DE, Michigan State

5)Devon Still, DT/DE, Penn State

6)Kevin Zeitler, OG, Wisconsin

7)Kendall Reyes, DT/DE, Connecticut

 

 

It should be a very interesting next few weeks as the draft is rapidly approaching. Either way whether we stay at #29 or trade out of the first round I think there will be a lot of good talent available. I really belive that our next draft pick will be one of those 17 players that I listed.

 

Thoughts?

[PurpleHaze]

If we stay at 29 I want it to be someone who will slide into a starting role and make an impact. My favorite right now is Glenn, but he has risen on a lot of boards. It would be great if any of the 3 alabama players fall to us.

 

I think a trade back is our best option if none of those type of players are still on the board, and in that case I would like to see Hill, Jeffrey, Smith, Konz or Zeitler depending on how far we move back.